The NBA player famously turned down a $21 million contract from the Timberwolves because he had a "family to feed." Not a good move. Sprewell ended up broke and, in sad boating news, accidentally grounded his yacht at one point.

Photo: LYNSEY ADDARIO

The NBA player famously turned down a $21 million contract from the...

The NBA player famously turned down a $21 million contract from the... Photo-4474938.60424 - SFGate

Image 2 of 25 | Dennis Rodman

The eccentric basketball star claimed he was broke, "extremely sick" and behind on over $800,000 of child support bills.

Every aspect of the Argentinean superstar's life has been subject to controversy, and Diego Maradona's finances are no different. In 2009, the Italian government claimed Maradona owed €37 million in taxes he hadn't paid while playing for Napoli. The Italians said Maradona has only paid them €42,000, two luxury watches and a pair of earrings ... which sounds perfectly Maradona-like.

Photo: Carlo Fumagalli, Associated Press

Every aspect of the Argentinean superstar's life has been subject...

Every aspect of the Argentinean superstar's life has been... Photo-6585469.60424 - SFGate

Image 4 of 25 | Scott Eyre

The former Giants pitcher confessed he was left bankrupt in the wake of the Stanford Financial fraud case. Eyre had to ask the Phillies for $2 million in advance to pay his bills.

Photo: DAVID ZALUBOWSKI, AP

The former Giants pitcher confessed he was left bankrupt in the...

The former Giants pitcher confessed he was left bankrupt in the... Photo-4474940.60424 - SFGate

Image 5 of 25 | Warren Sapp

The former Raider owed $6.7 million to creditors in 2012 and has spent his millions on, among other things, 240 pairs of Jordan sneakers and sandals and a lion skin rug.

Photo: Paul Sakuma, 2007, AP File

The former Raider owed $6.7 million to creditors in 2012 and has...

The former Raider owed $6.7 million to creditors in 2012 and has... Photo-4474939.60424 - SFGate

Image 6 of 25 | Sheryl Swoopes

The first superstar of women's basketball filed for bankruptcy in 2004. She lost almost $1 million in bad investments.

Photo: STEVE YEATER, AP

The first superstar of women's basketball filed for bankruptcy in...

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Image 7 of 25 | Gaylord Perry

Giants legend Gaylord Perry retired to his tobacco and peanut farm in North Carolina in 1983, but had to come out of retirement in 1986 after he filed for bankruptcy. He worked for a while as a sales manager and coached college baseball until 1991 when he retired for good.

The boxer and facial tattoo aficionado filed for bankruptcy in 2003 and is reportedly still struggling to keep himself afloat financially. At one point, he was supposedly in possession of just $700. When asked how he got into such dire straits, Tyson said, "I had a lot of fun."

Photo: RON KUNTZ, REUTERS

The boxer and facial tattoo aficionado filed for bankruptcy in 2003...

Baltimore Colts' quarterback Johnny Unitas and his wife filed for Chapter 11 in 1991 after the circuit board manufacturing company they'd invested in collapsed. At the time, the Unitas claimed $1.4 million in assets but owed creditors up to $3.2 million. The legal battles continued after Johnny Unitas' death; his family had an ugly fight over the licensing rights to his image and memorabilia.

Eleven children with 10 different women sunk the former Broncos running back who couldn't keep up with massive child support payments. He was sentenced to three years of jail time for cocaine trafficking in 2009.

Photo: David Zalubowski, AP

Eleven children with 10 different women sunk the former Broncos...

Eleven children with 10 different women sunk the former Broncos... Photo-4474943.60424 - SFGate

Image 11 of 25 | Lenny Dykstra

It's been a sad decline for the Mets star. Since retiring, Dykstra's been involved in a failed luxury jet airline, myriad bad investments and purchasing a $17 million home he couldn't afford. In March 2012, he was sentenced to three years in prison for grand theft auto.

Photo: Nick Ut, Associated Press

It's been a sad decline for the Mets star. Since retiring,...

It's been a sad decline for the Mets star. Since retiring,... Photo-4474944.60424 - SFGate

Image 12 of 25 | Lawrence Taylor

The star NFL linebacker's life has been a sad one, marred by cocaine addiction, statutory rape charges and bad investments. Taylor also plead guilty to tax evasion.

Photo: CHRIS O'MEARA, Associated Press

The star NFL linebacker's life has been a sad one, marred by...

The star NFL linebacker's life has been a sad one, marred by... Photo-4474945.60424 - SFGate

Image 13 of 25 | John Daly

The wild golfer's self-destructive lifestyle has been well-documented. He's been married four times, gone to rehab for alcohol abuse at least three times and has gambled away over $50 million by his own estimation.

The point guard was already broke by the time he retired from the NBA in 2005. He went back to school, got a degree and was hired as the boys' basketball coach at David Posnack Jewish Day School in Florida in 2011. His contract was not renewed after an arrest for DUI in 2013, and he has the ignominious distinction of being one of the players who joined Dennis Rodman for a "diplomacy" trip to North Korea.

Photo: ELISE AMENDOLA, Associated Press

The point guard was already broke by the time he retired from the...

The point guard was already broke by the time he retired from the... Photo-4474947.60424 - SFGate

Image 15 of 25 | Antoine Walker

The retired NBA forward (seen in the middle) accrued $800,000 in gambling debts and was charged with three felony counts of writing bad checks to pay off those debts. He pled guilty and was placed on probation.

The Olympian (on the left) went from on top of the world to buried under a pile of debt. Jones owed millions after being sentenced for perjury in her steroid scandal and served jail time for check fraud.

Photo: MARK BAKER, AP

The Olympian (on the left) went from on top of the world to buried...

The Olympian (on the left) went from on top of the world to buried... Photo-4474949.60424 - SFGate

Image 17 of 25 | Scottie Pippen

Although he made an estimated $120 million during his playing days, Pippen lost millions in mismanaged money (he sued his former law firm for the mismanaging). He also made the ill-advised purchase of a $4 million Gulfstream jet.

Photo: JEFF ROBERSON, AP

Although he made an estimated $120 million during his playing days,...

Although he made an estimated $120 million during his playing days,... Photo-4474950.60424 - SFGate

Image 18 of 25 | George Best

On the pitch, he was known as one of the greatest Irish footballers of all time. Off it, Best was busy spending his money on cars, booze and women. He struggled financially after retirement and passed away in 2005 after complications from a liver transplant necessitated in part by his heavy drinking.

Photo: PA, AP

On the pitch, he was known as one of the greatest Irish footballers...

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Image 19 of 25 | Terrell Owens

Back in January 2012, T.O. admitted to GQ that he was friendless, almost broke and "in hell." He claimed that he lost his millions not because of an extravagant lifestyle, but because financial advisors steered him astray.

Photo: Tony Gutierrez, AP

Back in January 2012, T.O. admitted to GQ that he was friendless,...

Back in January 2012, T.O. admitted to GQ that he was friendless,... Photo-4474952.60424 - SFGate

Image 20 of 25 | Evander Holyfield

Holyfield foreclosed his $10 million home in 2008, owed a landscaping company over $500,000 in unpaid services and had problems paying child support.

Photo: DAVID J. PHILLIP, Associated Press

Holyfield foreclosed his $10 million home in 2008, owed a...

Holyfield foreclosed his $10 million home in 2008, owed a... Photo-4474953.60424 - SFGate

Image 21 of 25 | Deuce McAllister

McAllister lost millions when his Nissan dealership in Jackson, Miss. went belly up in 2009. Nissan sued him, claiming the dealership defaulted on hundreds of thousands in payments and even more on exceeded credit limits. In 2012, a judge ordered a settlement between the two parties, but Nissan claims McAllister still hasn't paid up.

Photo: ANDREW J. COHOON, AP

McAllister lost millions when his Nissan dealership in Jackson,...

McAllister lost millions when his Nissan dealership in Jackson,... Photo-4474954.60424 - SFGate

Image 22 of 25 | Mark Brunell

Mark Brunell is a walking advertisement for the danger of bad investments. The former University of Washington quarterback filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010, listing $5 million in assets against $25 million in liabilities, mostly due to bad real estate decisions that went bust when the housing bubble burst.

Photo: EVAN VUCCI, AP

Mark Brunell is a walking advertisement for the danger of bad...

Mark Brunell is a walking advertisement for the danger of bad... Photo-4474955.60424 - SFGate

Image 23 of 25 | Michael Vick

Vick filed for Chapter 11 in 2008 after serving prison time for participating in a dog fighting ring. He lost millions in all sorts of ways, including failing to pay for 130 rental cars and defaulting on a loan to set up a wine store.

The legendary former Texas quarterback who played for the NFL's Tennessee Titans filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January 2014. He allegedly spent $5,000 a week at the Cheesecake Factory during his rookie season and once spent $6,000 on a single meal at T.G.I. Friday's in Nashville, according to Outkick the Coverage.

“If you wanted to write a manual about how to go into bankruptcy, Vince’s story would be it,” said Ed Butowsky, a Dallas financial adviser. “It’s a classic example of all the things that can go wrong.”

Photo: MIKE BLAKE, REUTERS

The legendary former Texas quarterback who played for the NFL's...

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